The top-ranked Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet announced ambitious plans to invest Rs.25 crore in creating hard and soft infrastructure with the aim of developing Olympic-level sportspersons.

The school has identified cycling, swimming, shooting and other sports for this purpose, and will invest upward of INR. 25 crores over the next five years towards creating world-class physical infrastructure and getting the right trainers and coaches and knowhow in these areas for development of their students into world-class sports persons capable of winning at the Olympics.

In line with this mission, the school has announced the launch of a Cycling Club. Sir Graham Watson, President, World Cycling Alliance, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr. D. V. Manohar, First Vice-President, World Cycling Alliance and T. Satyanarayana Reddy, President, Hyderabad Bicycling Club, were present as Guests of Honor. Mr. Gusti J. Noria, President, The Hyderabad Public School Society, welcomed the attendees and presided over the event. Dr Madhav Deo Saraswat, Principal, HPS, Begumpet addressed the students and teachers, and other guests.

The 120-acre campus of HPS houses multiple sporting fields, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, cricket pitches, football fields and a shooting range. Significantly, HPS is one of the few schools in the country with a shooting range.

 After the launch, Sir Graham flagged off a cycle rally of students and teachers on the campus. Following this, he shared his thoughts on cycling as a sport, and his life-long journey in cycling, leading up to the stewardship of the World Cycling Association with the students. He encouraged them to take up cycling as a sporting activity, which has multiple benefits, including a positive impact on individual health and the environment.

The HPS Cycling Club is intended to be multi-purpose and designed with facilities like a world-class cycling track. It will give students the opportunity to participate both in racing and cross-country cycling tournaments. With the multi-faceted cycling club, the School will have the best infrastructure for an introduction to the athletic world. The students will be coached and trained under the supervision of professionals. This will set a new benchmark for schools to create contenders for the Olympics.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Saraswat said, “The School has always focused on sport-integrated learning, in line with the New Education Policy. We have envisaged a curriculum that can nurture the sports talent in our school. With the advent of the Cycling Club, we are taking our curriculum to the next level by ensuring holistic development of students and turning out athletic stars from HPS.”

 Mr. Noria said, “We have already made a mark in academics and business through our excellent curriculum. We, at HPS, are aware of the importance of sports and this club will cater to the students aiming big in sports. The school will create an ecosystem for students to nurture their athletic talent in cycling. With an increased focus on developing the sports infrastructure at the School, including swimming and shooting ranges, we will ensure all-round development of students.”

 The inaugural day was marked by a heart-touching speech by Chief Guest, Sir Graham, an avid cyclist himself, who shared his thoughts on how grassroots-level efforts can create world-class champions. The event received a huge support from 30 cycling enthusiasts who are a part of the school’s unparalleled network of alumni as well as the keen parents who cheered for their wards.

 Sir Graham Watson, President, World Cycling Alliance, iterated, “Cycling ticks so many boxes for government and society. It reduces traffic congestion, improves health, combats obesity and diabetes, cuts carbon emissions and helps us meet 11 of the 16 United Nations Millennium Development Goals. I am pleased that Hyderabad Public School has teamed up with the Hyderabad Cycling Club and the All India Bicycling Federation to establish this new Club, which will encourage young people to adopt healthier lifestyles. 

Last month I had the pleasure to visit your city’s new 23 km solar-powered cycle path with our Vice President D. V. Manohar. I can see that Hyderabad is at the leading edge of new thinking in India. There is an alternative to traffic congestion and air pollution in India: build more cycle paths and promote a cycling culture. In line with its admirable tradition of breaking new ground, Hyderabad Public School is showing a lead.”

The school is spearheading this new initiative to bring out the best athletes among its students and to ensure that HPS produces a world cycling champion in the times to come. Hyderabad has been the land of athletes and this club is another feather in the cap of the city. The School also aims to cultivate greener practices through this club across the city and set an example for the entire country.